Climate Change Can Destabilise Nations, If Not Addressed, Says Kaduna Gov, Uba Sani 

John Shiklam in Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani, has said climate change was not just an environmental crisis but a profound challenge that could destabilise nations, worsen inequalities, and provoke violence if not addressed.
 The governor stated this yesterday in Kaduna, at a regional conference on climate change-induced conflicts in Northern Nigeria.
 The event was attended by the 19 Northern States Governments, religious functionaries and agencies.
 Sani said climate-induced conflict was  a reality that the north  must confront with urgency and determination.
 Sani said, “Facts about climate change  are undeniable, as can be seen in  rising temperatures, shifting weather patterns, and extreme weather events which are no longer distant threats.
 “The recent menace of floods in parts of Nigeria and especially in Kaduna State, the fast-encroaching desert sands rendering most of our arable lands infertile, the shrinking of rivers and gradual deforestation of our forests are stark reminders of the urgency of our situation.”
The governor noted that  these phenomena disrupted livelihoods, displaced communities, and created fierce competition for increasingly scarce resources like water, arable land, and food.
“The reality before us is that natural resources will become more limited, tensions will mount. Historically, we have witnessed how environmental stress can lead to conflict. The farmer – herder conflict is still with us today,” Sani said.
 He  noted further that  rural communities in the North were mostly agrarian farmers and pastoralists, stressing that, “climate change and unfavourable weather conditions and diseases have caused severe loss of people and animals.”
The governor said although conflicts had led to population displacement, food insecurity and  worsened poverty, he however called for collective action to combat the challenges.
“Despite the dire situation, we must pull ourselves together and confront the challenges facing us. We must give hope to our people. We must work collectively to fashion strategies to cope with the current situation and prepare for challenges in the future,” he urged.
He said his administration had taken some proactive steps to combat the impact of climate change.
“We have developed a policy on climate change to safeguard the future of our environment and people.
 “The policy outlines our vision for a Climate-Resilient Kaduna State, detailing objectives, strategies, and targets for key areas such as sustainable Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Waste Management, Water Resource Management, and Biodiversity Preservation, amongst others.
 “The  overall goal of the policy is to promote a low-carbon, climate-resilient, gender-responsive and sustainable socioeconomic development in Kaduna State,” the governor said.